Archaeological Locality ‘Ulpiana’, a reference point for Kosovo

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Memli Krasniqi, has visited the archaeological locality of “Ulpiana”, in order to see closely the excavation process and new findings, at the three sectors of the space where excavations are taking place.

The Minister was informed in detail on the excavation process of this year, the processing of findings and their conservation for archaeological-touristic aspects, new findings, the process of drafting the excavated parts and documenting the work in general.

The Minister estimated the work conducted in this locality, emphasizing that MCYS supports in all forms the archaeological excavations in order to discover our past as a country and to prove our civilization and ancientness as people, having passed through different historical periods.

“The institutional care for archaeology has been increased continuously via all forms of support, and these excavations which started five years ago, are evidence of a commitment o learn for our past and proof of our early civilization which existed in this territory” said the Minister, while he added that the archaeological locality of ‘Ulpiana’, along with the findings in it and in Dresnik of Klina, shall be a centre of reference for Kosovo, its history and shall also serve as a very important touristic point.

Moreover, the Minister stated that Archaeological Institute of Kosovo that is authorized for all coordination processes of excavations in this locality, has done its duty via cooperating with different institutions of this field, among them also the University of ‘Mimar Sinan’ in Istanbul of Turkey, where he distinguished the work of professor Haluk Çentinkaya.

In his turn, Director of the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo, Enver Rexha, said that the support of MCYS for archaeological excavations has been doubled and this has resulted in more work for archaeologists and more discoveries. He stated that this support resulted in that the AIK increased its collaboration with many international institutions of this field, which are of a significant importance.

Whereas, professor Çetinkaya stated that he is satisfied with the collaboration and work in general. He talked also for new excavations that were conducted this year, during which a church of IV-V century was discovered, dimensions of which are 39 meters height, 19 meters width and 8-9 meters length. The size of the church, according to professor, for the time that it existed proves that Ulpiana was a very important centre at that time.

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) together with the Archaeological Institute of Kosovo in the recent years have increased the investments and scientific researches in this locality and other localities, too, in which occasion, another early dwelling was discovered in Dresnik of Klina. Only this year 150 thousand Euros were invested in the Archaeological Locality of Ulpiana by MCYS, whereas, 100 thousand Euros for that in Dresnik.